CClinicalTrials.gg
CompletedNCT03904446Updated Aug 1, 2022Results posted

Multimodal Uterotonics at the Time of Cesarean Section in Laboring Patients

A Phase 4 interventional study of Methylergonovine and Normal Saline (placebo) in Uterine Atony With Hemorrhage, sponsored by Cynthia Wong. Completed at 1 site in United States. Open to female participants aged 18 Years to 50 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2022-08-01.

Sponsored by Cynthia Wong · Phase 4, Interventional, and Prevention

Phase
Phase 4
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
160
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years to 50 Years
Sex
Female
01

Study summary

Postpartum hemorrhage remains a leading cause of maternal morbidity and mortality worldwide, even in high income countries. Uterine atony is estimated to cause 70-80% of postpartum hemorrhage. Prolonged labor and augmented labor are known risk factors for postpartum hemorrhage. In attempts to reduce the incidence of postpartum hemorrhage, particularly in patients with known risks factors, it is essential to optimize preventative practices in order to reduce the rates postpartum hemorrhage.

Although oxytocin is considered the first line therapy for preventing and treating uterine atony, early consideration of additional prophylactic uterotonic agents may be indicated in women with prior oxytocin exposure given oxytocin receptor desensitization and down regulation.

As such, investigators sought to examine whether multimodal prophylactic uterotonics (standard oxytocin + methylergonovine), in patients who are increased risk of developing postpartum hemorrhage (specifically laboring patients who ultimately require a cesarean section) would benefit from the addition of prophylactic uterotonics. The clinical rational for administration of multimodal prophylactic uterotonics at the time of cesarean delivery in laboring patients is three-fold: to decrease the incidence of uterine atony, to decrease the incidence of postpartum hemorrhage, decrease the number of uterotonics required at the time of cesarean section.

The primary outcome will be to evaluate the need for additional uterotonic agents (Methylergonovine, Carboprost, Misoprostol) at the time of delivery.

Secondary outcomes will include the incidence of postpartum hemorrhage (quantitative blood loss >1 liter), surgical assessment of uterine tone four minutes following delivery of the placenta, preoperative and postoperative hemoglobin, the need for a blood transfusion, intensive care unit admission, uterine infection (endometritis).

Read the detailed description

All patients who meet eligibility for the study will be consented during their clinic visit or upon arrival to labor and delivery. If patients elect to participate in the study, enrollment in the study will be noted in their sticky note in EPIC (electronic medical record) which will be ready available to all members of the health care team. If patients during the labor process require a cesarean section, the anesthesiologist will pick up a sealed envelope (which will contain the allocation sequence and group assignment). A randomization block design with mixed block sizes will be used to generate the allocation sequence by using the nQuery Advisor computer software.

The sealed envelopes will be readily available to the anesthesiologist and kept in the anesthesia workroom. Following delivery of the infant, the patient will receive the standard oxytocin infusion. Following administration of the oxytocin infusion, the patient will be given either methylergonovine 0.2 mg IM (intramuscular) or placebo (1 ml of normal saline, intramuscular). This will be drawn up and administered by the anesthesiologist. The obstetrician (delivering provider performing the cesarean section) will be blinded to the group assignment. Documentation of the drug will be recorded in epic in the medication administration record.

The delivering provider will be responsible for determining and relaying to the anesthesiologist whether additional uterotonics are needed throughout the procedure. Additional uterotonics will be given in accordance to the current guidelines outlined by the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). The delivery provider will assess uterine tone at 4 minutes (satisfactory versus unsatisfactory). The registered nurse will be responsible for setting up a timer to let the OB provider know when 4 minutes have passed. Nursing will call out once the 4 minutes have passed and the OB provider will state whether adequate tone was noted. The anesthesiologist will be responsible for documenting whether a placebo/study drug was given and uterine tone after 4 minutes. This documentation will be placed back into the sealed envelope by the anesthesiologist and placed in the anesthesia workroom. Nicole Masse (primary investigator) will be responsible for storing folders in a secured, locked file cabinet within the Maternal Fetal Medicine offices.

As routinely done at the time of cesarean delivery, the registered nurse will be responsible for measuring and documenting the quantitative blood loss. As routinely performed on all are patients who undergo a vaginal or cesarean delivery, preoperative hemoglobin and postoperative day one hemoglobin levels will be collected.

In the event a postpartum hemorrhage was to occur, the obstetrician will then be un-blinded as management of a postpartum hemorrhage will be driven by whether normal saline or methergine was given as part of the study.

The primary outcome, the need for additional uterotonics, will be assessed in the operating room. Other outcome which will be assessed in the operating room include uterine tone and quantitative blood loss. Outcomes which will be assessed in the immediate postpartum period include: postpartum hemoglobin values, need for a blood transfusion, admission to the intensive care unit, endometritis).

No long-term follow will be needed.

02

Conditions studied

  • Uterine Atony With Hemorrhage

Keywords

  • Methergine
  • Uterine Atony
03

In context

Uterine Inertia

34 studies on the registry are indexed under Uterine Inertia; 6 are open to participants now.

This study's enrollment of 160 is above the median of 100 across 21 interventional studies indexed under Uterine Inertia.

Browse Uterine Inertia studies →

Lead sponsor

This is the only study on the registry with Cynthia Wong as lead sponsor.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years to 50 Years
Sexes eligible
Female
Accepts healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

  • 18 years of age
  • Laboring patients who undergo a cesarean section

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Placenta/Uterine Abnormalities
  • Chronic Hypertension, Gestational Hypertension, Preeclampsia
  • HIV/AIDS on protease inhibitors
  • History of Coronary Artery Disease
  • History of Hypersensitivity to Methylergonovine
05

Study design

Phase
Phase 4
Primary purpose
Prevention
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
Quadruple (Participant, Care provider, Investigator, Outcomes assessor)
Enrollment
160 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    Methylergonovine 0.2 mg

    Standard Oxytocin Infusion at the time of Cesarean Section plus 0.2 mg of Intramuscular Methergine

    Drug: Methylergonovine

  • Placebo comparator
    Placebo (Normal Saline)

    Standard Oxytocin Infusion at the time of Cesarean Section plus 1 milliliter (mL)of normal saline given intramuscular

    Drug: Normal Saline (placebo)

Interventions

  • DrugMethylergonovine

    0.2 mg of intramuscular methylergonovine at the time of cesarean section following standard IV oxytocin infusion.

    Also known as: Methergine

  • DrugNormal Saline (placebo)

    1 ml of normal saline intramuscular at the time of cesarean section following standard IV oxytocin infusion

    Also known as: Saline

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Number of Participants With Need for Additional Uterotonics (Methylergonovine, Carboprost, Misoprostol)

    Categorical Variable (Yes/No) - Depending on whether patients required additional uterotonic agents the outcome measure will be yes or no.

    Time frame: Assessed from the time of cesarean section until 24 hours postdelivery

Secondary outcomes

  1. Quantitative Blood Loss

    As per protocol, nurses will measure the quantitative blood loss by measuring the blood in the canisters used during the cesarean section and by weighing the sponges used in the surgery.

    Time frame: Quantitative Blood Loss is measured at the completion of the cesarean delivery, an average of 2 hours

  2. The Difference Between the Preoperative and Postoperative (Postpartum Day 1) Hemoglobin Values

    As per standard protocol, preoperative and postoperative day one hemoglobin levels will be evaluated. the difference between the preoperative and postoperative day 1 hemoglobin values will be calculated.

    Time frame: Preoperative hemoglobin level is collected on arrival to labor and delivery prior to the cesarean section, postoperative hemoglobin is collected on postoperative day one.

  3. Number of Patients With Unsatisfactory Uterine Tone 4 Min Following Delivery as Assessed by the Obstetrician

    Nursing will notify the obstetrical provider 4 minutes following delivery of the infant and the obstetrical provider will determine whether the uterine tone is noted to be satisfactory (uterus is contracted) or unsatisfactory (uterus boggy)

    Time frame: Obstetricians will assess the uterine tone 4 minutes following delivery of the infant

  4. The Number of Patients Who Required a Blood Transfusion During the Delivery Hospitalization

    The number of patients who required a blood transfusion

    Time frame: The need for a blood transfusion during the cesarean section up until hospital discharge (which is typically postpartum day number 3 for patients undergoing cesarean delivery)

07

Results

Posted Jul 27, 2022

Participant flow

Participant flow — Overall Study
MilestoneMethylergonovine 0.2 mgPlacebo (Normal Saline)
Started8080
Completed8080
Not completed00

Outcome measures

PrimaryNumber of Participants With Need for Additional Uterotonics (Methylergonovine, Carboprost, Misoprostol)

Categorical Variable (Yes/No) - Depending on whether patients required additional uterotonic agents the outcome measure will be yes or no.

Time frame:
Assessed from the time of cesarean section until 24 hours postdelivery
Reported as:
Count of participants · Participants
Number of Participants With Need for Additional Uterotonics (Methylergonovine, Carboprost, Misoprostol)
ParticipantsMethylergonovine 0.2 mgPlacebo (Normal Saline)
Number of Participants With Need for Additional Uterotonics (Methylergonovine, Carboprost, Misoprostol)8080
SecondaryQuantitative Blood Loss

As per protocol, nurses will measure the quantitative blood loss by measuring the blood in the canisters used during the cesarean section and by weighing the sponges used in the surgery.

Time frame:
Quantitative Blood Loss is measured at the completion of the cesarean delivery, an average of 2 hours
Reported as:
Mean · mL
Quantitative Blood Loss
mLMethylergonovine 0.2 mgPlacebo (Normal Saline)
Quantitative Blood Loss967 ± 4291315 ± 915
SecondaryThe Difference Between the Preoperative and Postoperative (Postpartum Day 1) Hemoglobin Values

As per standard protocol, preoperative and postoperative day one hemoglobin levels will be evaluated. the difference between the preoperative and postoperative day 1 hemoglobin values will be calculated.

Time frame:
Preoperative hemoglobin level is collected on arrival to labor and delivery prior to the cesarean section, postoperative hemoglobin is collected on postoperative day one.
Reported as:
Mean · g/dL
The Difference Between the Preoperative and Postoperative (Postpartum Day 1) Hemoglobin Values
g/dLMethylergonovine 0.2 mgPlacebo (Normal Saline)
The Difference Between the Preoperative and Postoperative (Postpartum Day 1) Hemoglobin Values2.36 ± 1.082.91 ± 1.08
SecondaryNumber of Patients With Unsatisfactory Uterine Tone 4 Min Following Delivery as Assessed by the Obstetrician

Nursing will notify the obstetrical provider 4 minutes following delivery of the infant and the obstetrical provider will determine whether the uterine tone is noted to be satisfactory (uterus is contracted) or unsatisfactory (uterus boggy)

Time frame:
Obstetricians will assess the uterine tone 4 minutes following delivery of the infant
Reported as:
Count of participants · Participants
Number of Patients With Unsatisfactory Uterine Tone 4 Min Following Delivery as Assessed by the Obstetrician
ParticipantsMethylergonovine 0.2 mgPlacebo (Normal Saline)
Number of Patients With Unsatisfactory Uterine Tone 4 Min Following Delivery as Assessed by the Obstetrician6433
SecondaryThe Number of Patients Who Required a Blood Transfusion During the Delivery Hospitalization

The number of patients who required a blood transfusion

Time frame:
The need for a blood transfusion during the cesarean section up until hospital discharge (which is typically postpartum day number 3 for patients undergoing cesarean delivery)
Reported as:
Count of participants · Participants
The Number of Patients Who Required a Blood Transfusion During the Delivery Hospitalization
ParticipantsMethylergonovine 0.2 mgPlacebo (Normal Saline)
The Number of Patients Who Required a Blood Transfusion During the Delivery Hospitalization418

Adverse events

Collected over During delivery hospitalization (approximately 3-6 days). Non-serious events are listed at a 5% frequency threshold.

Adverse event summary by group
GroupDeathsSeriousOther
Methylergonovine 0.2 mg0/80 (0%)0/80 (0%)7/80 (8.8%)
Placebo (Normal Saline)0/80 (0%)0/80 (0%)9/80 (11.3%)
Most frequent other events
Most frequent other events
EventMethylergonovine 0.2 mgPlacebo (Normal Saline)
HypertensionPregnancy, puerperium and perinatal conditions7/809/80

Baseline characteristics

Age, Categorical
Age, Categorical(Participants)Methylergonovine 0.2 mgPlacebo (Normal Saline)Total
<=18 years000
Between 18 and 65 years8080160
>=65 years000
Sex: Female, Male
Sex: Female, Male(Participants)Methylergonovine 0.2 mgPlacebo (Normal Saline)Total
Female8080160
Male000
Race and Ethnicity Not Collected
Race and Ethnicity Not Collected(Participants)Methylergonovine 0.2 mgPlacebo (Normal Saline)Total
Count of participants——0
Region of Enrollment
Region of Enrollment(participants)Methylergonovine 0.2 mgPlacebo (Normal Saline)Total
United States8080160
08

Study locations

1 site
  • University of Iowa
    Iowa City, Iowa 52242, United States
09

References and documents

Publications

  • Senturk S, Kagitci M, Balik G, Arslan H, Kir Sahin F. The Effect of the Combined Use of Methylergonovine and Oxytocin during Caesarean Section in the Prevention of Post-partum Haemorrhage. Basic Clin Pharmacol Toxicol. 2016 May;118(5):338-43. doi: 10.1111/bcpt.12500. Epub 2015 Nov 15. PubMed 26449959 ↗
  • Lavoie A, McCarthy RJ, Wong CA. The ED90 of prophylactic oxytocin infusion after delivery of the placenta during cesarean delivery in laboring compared with nonlaboring women: an up-down sequential allocation dose-response study. Anesth Analg. 2015 Jul;121(1):159-164. doi: 10.1213/ANE.0000000000000781. PubMed 25902327 ↗
  • Masse N, Dexter F, Wong CA. Prophylactic Methylergonovine and Oxytocin Compared With Oxytocin Alone in Patients Undergoing Intrapartum Cesarean Birth: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Obstet Gynecol. 2022 Aug 1;140(2):181-186. doi: 10.1097/AOG.0000000000004857. Epub 2022 Jul 6. PubMed 35852267 ↗

Study documents

  • Study protocol · Jun 17, 2019
  • Statistical analysis plan · Jun 17, 2019
  • Informed consent form · Jun 17, 2019

Documents are hosted by the registry — open the source record to download them.

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No

10

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Aug 1, 2022, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
11

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT03904446
Lead sponsor
Cynthia Wong
Responsible party
Cynthia Wong (Physician-Professor-DEO, University of Iowa) — Sponsor-investigator
First posted
Apr 5, 2019
Start date
Jun 8, 2019
Primary completion
Feb 15, 2021
Completion
Feb 15, 2021
Results posted
Jul 27, 2022
Last update
Aug 1, 2022

Study contacts

Nicole M Masse, MD
principal investigator · University of Iowa

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
Yes
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

Not currently enrolling

This study is completed, as verified in Jul 2022. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

Follow this study

Get an email when the registry record changes — status, dates, results — or when someone posts here.

Sign in to follow

Discussion

Questions and observations about this study, from anyone following it. Not medical advice, and not a channel to the study team — their contact details are on the registry record.

Sign in to join the discussion. Reading takes no account; posting does. You choose a display name, and a pseudonym is the default.

Nothing here yet. If you are running this trial, taking part in it, or weighing whether to, this is the place to say so.

Start the discussion